The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is about more than physical infrastructure. Beyond the fanfare about ports and railways, the BRI has a technological counterpart with far-reaching consequences for Southeast Asia – the “digital silk road”. While traditional infrastructure has been in the spotlight, the digital...
100 days have elapsed since Pakatan Harapan (PH) defeated the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition during Malaysia’s 14th General Election, and set out to fulfil its electoral promises. But what remains to be done, and how have domestic audiences reacted to their policies? We had...
As a leading financial hub, Singapore is witnessing a growing interest in Green Finance amid a broader transition towards a sustainable, green economy. Various stakeholders such as the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) and the Singapore Exchange have...
SIIA Chairman Simon Tay spoke at the Sustainable Forum 2018 on 23 July 2018 in Bangkok, organised by the Bank of Thailand. Prof Tay appeared on a panel on "Financing while Preserving Environment", commenting on Singapore's early steps towards green growth in the financial sector. While...
On 11 July 2018, South Korean President Moon Jae-in arrived in Singapore for a three-day state visit, the first by a South Korean president in fifteen years. Following the historic summit between the United States and North Korea a month ago, Mr. Moon’s visit to...
Simon Tay For The Straits Times Controversy about Sino-Singapore relations is resurfacing. Veteran diplomat Bilahari Kausikan reportedly warned that China “wants you to think in such a way that you will, of your own volition, do what it wants without being told.” China’s Ambassador to Singapore, Hong...
ASEAN’s economy is expected to grow at an estimated 5.1 percent annually, but its energy demand and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions will also increase by 67 percent by 2030. To counteract this trend, in December 2017, the Philippines ratified a coal tax in December 2017, after...
By Nicholas Fang For TODAY When Malaysia's opposition alliance, Pakatan Harapan, won the May 9 general election, many in the country hoped for a government that could stem corruption and move forward with reform. Many Malaysians admired the commitment and extraordinary energy of Dr Mahathir Mohamad and believed...
The 12 June meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been lauded as a historical event. But what lies ahead for engagement with North Korea? Has the meeting bolstered Trump domestically, ahead of US midterm elections? How should...
SIIA Director of Security and Global Affairs Nicholas Fang was quoted by Reuters on the Singapore-Malaysia water issue. Here's an excerpt from the article. Water hazard: Malaysia's belt-tightening resurrects age-old dispute with Singapore by John Geddie and Aradhana Aravindan “It is not just about money. He (Mahathir) is a...